Protesters are flocked outside Sri Lankan Prime Minister’s office in Colombo Sri Lanka blocked the president and 14 family members from leaving to Dubai as they tried to escape protests. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is believed to be trying to leave by boat. His immunity from arrest will end when he resigns, expected to happen on Wednesday 13 July.

Airport staff in Sri Lanka blocked the president from leaving the country after he fled mass protests over corruption and the economic crisis.  He is believed to be trying to go to the UAE. On Saturday, a large number of protesters stormed the president’s official residence as well as the prime minister’s office in Colombo, demanding the resignation of the president and the incumbent government.

The family of Sri Lanka’s President Rajapaksa is said to have dominated the country for decades, and is accused of massive corruption, money laundering and mismanagement. Rajapaksa’s brother Mahinda was president twice since 2005 and also brother Basil was finance minister until being forced to resign in April. Sri Lanka on Wednesday declared a state of emergency after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled, AFP reported, citing Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s office.